caribbean island st kitts eco
St Kitts gets you right away with its natural beauty.
Caribbean

The Caribbean Island of St Kitts Is a Haven for Hiking, Eco-Tourism and Wellness, and It’s Becoming a Year-Round Hotspot

By: Alexander Britell - April 8, 2025 - 11:04 pm

Mount Liamuiga is a nearly 4,000-foot-tall volcano that’s one of the highest points in the Caribbean. It’s been dormant for nearly two thousand years. But lately, the biggest peak on the Caribbean island of St Kitts been heating up for a different reason. 

The mountain is lush and verdant, covered with rainforest, and is seeing a surge in popularity as an eco-tourism destination – both for world-class hiking and the island’s dynamic farm-to-table movement, thanks to tour operators like the excellent Liamuiga Natural Farms.  

St Kitts is one of the region’s emerging hotspots: it’s home to the Caribbean’s only Park Hyatt resort, a host of charming small hotels, a robust food scene (and a burgeoning rum movement) (that includes a popular Restaurant Week) and a palpably different vibe that somehow, expertly, blends serenity and adventure. 

After JetBlue launched its first-ever flights to the island at the end of 2023, St Kitts has never been easier to get to, with robust airlift from major markets (including from Miami on American) and a growing position on the radar of sophisticated travelers. 

st kitts sizzling
The pool at the Sunset Reef hotel in St Kitts.

But most importantly, the island is quickly shedding its image as simply a spot for winter travel. St Kitts, you see, is becoming a year-round destination. 

“We’re really trying to push that St Kitts is a year-round destination, not just for winter,” St Kitts Tourism Authority CEO Kelly Fontenelle told Caribbean Journal in an interview. “We want travelers to really know, hey, you can come in the summer — there’s things for the family to do, and things for couples. We’re showing that there’s no stop.” 

The JetBlue service, for example, operates year round, and the United flights from Newark are also operating through the summer season. 

rooftop pools st kitts
Rooftop pools at the Park Hyatt’s villas.

This summer is set to sizzle, beginning with the island’s world-famous St Kitts Music Festival (John Legend is among the superstars on hand for this year’s event), along with the aforementioned Restaurant Week, which runs this year from July 17-27 (yes, it’s actually longer than a week) and includes special menus at restaurants all over the island and bigger events like the St Kitts Tasting Showcase and the beloved Grill Fest Competition (you don’t want to miss it, trust us). 

St Kitts is also getting more and more buzz as a wellness destination, and not just for the Liamuiga Hot Stone Massage at the Park Hyatt. Whether it’s the famous cross-channel swimming race, the copious adventure options or the quality of the produce, the island is cultivating a well-deserved image as a place for holistic, authentic wellness — not just lip service. 

caribbean island st kitts eco
Liamuiga Natural Farms give you a portal into the remarkable natural world of the volcano.

Where to stay? Sure, there’s the Park Hyatt, which has a stunning infinity pool and a great location within the southeastern peninsula of St Kitts (rooms at $841 per night). The beachfront Koi resort, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, has some very good rates in the late spring and summer, with prices around $135 per night. 

If it’s something smaller you’re seeking, we love the Sunset Reef hotel, a boutique with just 11 rooms (all cooled with innovative geothermal technology), a private beach and one of the Caribbean island’s best restaurants, the Drop Anchor Grill. Rooms around $765 per night. 

So what about flights? The JetBlue flights from New York start as low as $164 one-way. The AA service has fares for about $581 roundtrip in May, according to Google Flights data. 

Popular Posts Aruba Antigua Resorts Romantic

The Caribbean's Greenest Hotels for 2025, From Solar-Powered Resorts in Puerto Rico to Adventure Lodges in The Bahamas

The term “green” has never been more important, but it’s also never been a broader term. What once merely meant a degree of environmental focus, has now expanded to encompass everything from renewable energy to sustainability to community tourism. That’s […]


In Dominica, an All-Inclusive That Comes With the Whole Island 

dominica fort young views

All-inclusive has been changing. That’s not a secret. It’s the biggest thing in travel right now, particularly in the Caribbean, where travelers want more. But they don’t just want the unlimited food and beverage. They want the experience. They want […]


Belize Is the Caribbean’s Happiest Country 

rows of buildings on the beach in belize

Belize has come out on top of the Caribbean as the region’s happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The Caribbean country on the coast of Central America was ranked 25th overall in the world, […]


Related Posts caribbean beach bar in belize

The Perfect Caribbean Beach Bar Just Might Be in This Hidden Town in Belize 

There are fish tacos and there are fish tacos. These are the latter. It’s evening in Hopkins, Belize and the sound of Garifuna drumming fills the packed bar. It’s the second time I’ve been back in two days, with both […]


Beach of the Day: Palm Beach, Aruba Is the Island’s Hotel Capital and a Picture-Perfect Stretch of Sand 

aruba palm beach white sand and people in the water

There’s a reason that the first major hotel in Aruba (the Morris Lapidus-designed Aruba Caribbean Hotel) opened on Palm Beach. If you’ve been there, you know. If you designed a beach in a lab, this would be it.  The sand […]


Caribbean Photo of the Week: Nevis Peak, Viewed From St Kitts

caribbean photo nevis

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Kara Peterson, who sent in this beautiful shot of Nevis Peak, as viewed from Cockleshell Beach in St Kits.  Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to […]